Premiere on March 9, 2025, at the Auditorium de Lyon / co-produced with Institut Lumière and the Auditorium - Orchestre National de Lyon

Le Masque de fer is a grand orchestra cine-concert based on the 1929 film The Iron Mask, directed by Allan Dwan.

This project renews ARFI’s commitment to cine-concerts, a genre the collective has significantly contributed to expanding and diversifying. ARFI takes on this sweeping political epic, set against a backdrop of conspiracies and betrayals. The film offers powerful inspiration for new musical compositions.

The film has been beautifully restored by Cohen Films, a distributor that has joined the project, along with Institut Lumière, which guided us in selecting this film.

The Film

The birth of twin heirs at the court of Louis XIII (Rolfe Sedan) threatens the French kingdom. Concerned, Cardinal Richelieu (Nigel De Brulier) decides to keep the news secret and sends the firstborn to Spain. However, the ambitious and deceitful Count de Rochefort (Ullrich Haupt) seizes the child and raises him to hate his brother. Meanwhile, d’Artagnan (Douglas Fairbanks) watches over Louis XIV (William Bakewell). But when the time comes, the count has the king abducted and replaces him with his twin.

A legend of swashbuckling cinema, Douglas Fairbanks was one of the greatest stars of the silent era. From the 1915s to the dawn of talkies, the man known as The King of Hollywood shined in iconic roles, portraying the fearless Zorro, d’Artagnan, and Robin Hood.

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